News Archive

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 27th October 2014 Energy & Business services: Following much recent work by HIE's local team, especially Roy Kirk and CNSRP partner secondees June Love (from DSRL) and Lindsay Foord (from Highland Council), this week saw a visit by oil & gas companies to Caithness.  It was good to see more than twenty representatives from a range of companies, who were greeted by Cllr Gail Ross, Highland Council's Civic Leader for Caithness.  

New Police North Highland Area Commander

North Highland Area Commander - Chief Inspector Iain MacLelland Aberdeen born Chief Inspector, Iain MacLelland, was promoted to Area Commander for the North Highland area last month, taking over from Chief Inspector Ross MacKillop.   With family connections to Skye and the Western Isles, the opportunity to relocate to the Highland capital was gladly seized by Iain and his family last month.  

More LED Street Lighting For Highland

Highland Council has agreed further investment in LED street lighting programme to cut carbon emissions and generate £35k per year.   The Highland Council has agreed further investment in LED street lighting programme to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption and generate savings of £35k per year.  

Highland Council calls on UK Government to reinstate adequate coastal protection

THE Highland Council is renewing its call upon the UK Government to reinstate adequate coastal protection measures for the Highlands and Islands.   Leader of the Council, Drew Hendry raised the matter at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands earlier this week, and asked for the support of the full council, strategic partners and the Island Councils, in asking the UK Government to reinstate an Emergency Towing Vessel in the Minches without further delay and to commit to extending the lease for the Emergency Towing Vessel based in Kirkwall.  

Industry dialogue on Scotland's Marine Tourism Strategy

Scotland's marine tourism is a significant contributor to the Scottish Economy but with little previous strategic input it is still one of Scotland's sleeping giants, producing £101m from sailing tourism alone.  Therefore BMF Scotland, a group association of the British Marine Federation, has come together with the other industry experts, user groups, public agencies and enterprise bodies to develop the Marine Tourism Strategy.  

Highland Council launches phase two of Budget Consultation

The Highland Council has launched a consultation paper with detailed proposals for saving over £15 million towards a total budget cut of £64 million over the next five years.   The Council has already achieved over £77.7m of cuts, including some through efficiency savings over the past 5 years.  

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 28 October 2014

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 28th) sold 60 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (25) averaged 217.1p (+2.8p) and sold to 230p per kg and £1,571.95 gross.  

Trading Standards and Citizens Advice tackle private car parking problems

The Highland Council's Trading Standards Officers are backing local Citizens Advice Bureaux in their campaign to ensure that Highland consumers get a fair deal over private car parking.   Both agencies have seen an increase in consumer complaints about private parking in recent times, with a range of problems being encountered by motorists, as David MacKenzie, Team Leader at Highland Council Trading Standards explained: "Sometimes the problem is poor signage resulting in drivers being unaware of large penalty charges and the scale of such charges can also be controversial.  

Councils join together to benefit from new network contract

Highland and Islands Councils have signed a multi-million pound contract on behalf of the Pathfinder North Partnership, led by The Highland Council, for the provision of Network Services starting in March 2016.   The deal is part of the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) Framework agreement awarded to CAPITA in February 2014 and has a potential value of around £33m (over 7 years) across the five Partners for whom it is expected to generate significant cost savings.  

Working together to benefit the Highlands and Islands

The Highlands and Islands Convention was welcomed to the Merkinch Community Centre in Inverness today (Monday) by Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of the Highland Council, who stressed the importance of ensuring a highly skilled workforce that would contribute to the continuing economic growth of the Highlands and Islands.  He also highlighted the need for partners to be working together to deliver good quality services to local communities and to sustain and enable those communities in the Highlands and Islands to flourish.